Control key operation from sorting racks



Er AL 2,868,912

oM soRTING RAcKs Jan'. 13, 1959 Jan. 13,`1959` P.sPuRL1No ET AL coNTRoL KEY OPERATION FROM soRTING RAcKs 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1955 47 IA 48 43 56 w;

INVENTOR PASCAL SPU 0 ROGER S. HULL EARL E. R L

BY g 2 THEIR ATTORNEYS Jan. 13,1959 P. sPuRLlNo l-TAL 2,868,912

CONTROL KEY OPERATION FROM soRTING RAcKs Filed Nov. 15, 1955 3 Sheets-sheet s -zooo 33 MFD 50 Jv voLTs so-oHM fso FIG. 5

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mvENToRs PAscAL sPURLlNo ROGER S. HULL EARL E. R EL ii ii HEIR ATTORNEYS United States Patent O saat! CONTROL KEY OPERATION FROM SORTING RACKS Pascal Spurlino, Roger S. Hull', andV Earl E. Rupel, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland (incorporated in 1926).

Application November 1'5, 1955, Serial No. 546,948 8 Claims.. (Cl. mil-61.59)

This invention relates to a novel switch for an electrically-controlled means for depressing, keys in an accounting machine, said switches being located in record receiving compartments. b

The principal object of the invention is toV provide novel switches for automatically depressing control keys of an accounting machine while record material is being inserted into a record-receiving compartment.

A specific object of theV invention is to provide a novel switch, which directions.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a novel switch-operatingmeans, which is capable of actuating one of a plurality of switch blades upon being moved by a light touch in any one of a plurality of directions.

Another object. of the invention is to mount a switchoperating means on floating supports, to' enable an operator to close a switch from a plurality of directions.

A further specific object of the invention isv to mount a switch-operating means on a universal floating support.

Anadditional object of the invention is 'to mount switchoperating means at the mouths of compartments so that the switches can be operated to releasethe machine by the act of' inserting a record material' intoa selected sorting compartment, said switches thereby closing a circuit through means to depress a control key corresponding to the selected compartment,` whereby data. set up on the keyboard of an accounting machine is,` automatically enteredinto a selected totalizer,,which totalizer is selectedv by the depressed control key.

With these and incidental objects inV view, the invention includes certain novelifeatures of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which will be described, hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of' a conventional account-- ing machine illustrating the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a row of. control keys of the conventional accounting machine, illustrating the mounting of solenoids thereon, .whereby the control keys are depressed.

Fig. 3 is a rear view, showing the construction solenoid.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig; 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the Wiring connections between the sorting compartment switches and the solenoids for operating.y the control keys.

with certain parts broken away, of the switch'for. energizing the General description In machines of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,361,662, issued to. Pascal Spurlino and Konrad Rauch, three banks'of control keys are provided for controlling the various functions 'and' operations ofA the mais responsive to movement in a plurality of' entering data in a totalizer 2,868,912 Patented Jan. 13, 1959 chine. Machines of said class are provided with sorting compartments, in which checks are placed. as the data taken therefrom. is entered into the machine. To aid the operator in selecting the proper compartments of the machine. illustrated inV the Spurlino and. Rauch patent, indicators are provided in the various compartments, as illustrated in the Spurlino and Rauch Patent No. 2,416,- 598, which indicators are. operated. upon depression of a control key, and the operator deposits a check into the indicator-'s compartment while the machine is going through this cycle of operation. An experienced operator can deposit a check in the indicator compartment within the available time. New operators sometimes find the alloted time too short, and the indicator returns home before they can deposit the check,` causing Confusion and errors in depositing the checks' into the compartments..

In the present disclosure, the data` is set up onthe amount keyboard, then the check is deposited` in the selected compartment, and, by the same movement' of the operator's hand, a switch in the mouth of the compartment is closed to energize a solenoid for depressing an associated control keyV to initiate anl operation of the machine to-enter the data associated with the compartment into which the checkis'deposited.

The switch in each compartment is constructed` and located in the mouth of the compartment, so that it can. be operated by slight pressure. in any direction, which; pressure is. exerted while the operator.v is depositing, thel check into the compartment.

Detailed description As disclosed in thel above-mentioned patents, machines of' the type towhich the invention is shown applied'` are provided with four. banks of control keys 10 (Figs. 1 and' 2),, which keys are slidably mountedin key frames. 11, carried byrods 12'and13, supported by the framework of the machine. The usual cabinet 14 encloses the mechanism of the machine.

In the present disclosure, each of the keys 10- is con-- nected to a key stem 15, which stem controls the differential movement of thelwell-known differential mechanism for controlling the machine in its various operations. Each: key 10 projects through asolenoid 16,. suitably mounted. in brackets carried byl the key frame 11. Each key 10,. projecting through the solenoid 16,. comprises an armature, which, upon energization of the-` solenoid 16, depresses thekey 10V and the stem 15 con.- nected thereto.

As is well known, and asdescribed in the above-mentioned patents, sorting machines of the class described are provided with a plurality of compartments to receive the assorted checks, whichl thus are sorted for use in' bank Clearing houses. A separate compartment is used4 for. each. bank associated witha clearinghouse, and all checks drawn. on one bank, for example, are depositedv in the compartment assigned. to that bank. Each'compartment is numhered to agree with=thenumber assigned: to the bank, and a controly key in the machine selccts; a totalizer into which all entries for the selected banks areV received.v i

The present invention comprisesanovel'control for depressing the proper key upon and' by the insertion of a check into the selected'compartment, thusminimizing errors. due to, depositing checksfinto one compartment'and not associated with that/com'- partment.

The compartments are formed by side walls 31' and 32 andby paititions 33. Each compartment is provided' with a back wall 34, andslots'35therein provide finger openings to permiteasy4 removal ofv the checks from thev compartments, Thev front wall 3.6; together with the fbacl; wall'3'4, forms the two lowermost compartments. The

side walls 37 and 38 form the section of compartments located above the accounting machine.

Novel switches (Figs. 3 and 4) are secured to the front wall 36 and to the back walls 34, near the front of each compartment. Each switch comprises a front plate 40 and a bracket 41 (Figs.` 3 and 4), which are secured to the wall 34. Two bolts 42 are provided to bolt the plate 40 and the bracket 41 in' position at the upper edge at the front of each compartment.` The bracket 41 is provided with a horizontal flange 43, on which two switchsupporting posts 44 are mounted. Mounted on the posts 44 are two switch plates 45 and 46, which carry contact points 47 and 48, respectively, at their right-hand ends (Fig. 3) and contact points 49 and 50 at their lefthand ends (Fig. 3).

A switch-operating plate 51 is provided with two studs 52 and 53 (Fig. 3), which are held in openings of the plate 51 by set screws 54. The pins 52 and 53 project through enlarged openings 55 and 56, respectively, of the bracket 43. The pins 52 and 53 are notched to receive spring clips 57 and 58, respectively. Springs 59 and 60 surround the pins 52 and 53, respectively, and are located between the spring clips 57 and 58, and rest on the bracket 43 to flexibly support the switch-operating plate 51.

Adjustably mounted in the switch-operating plate 51 are two switch-operating studs 61 and 62. The pins 61 and 62 are held in position by lock nuts 63. Adjusting screws 64 provide a means for adjusting the studs 61 and 62 in relation to the switch plate 45, so that close adjustment between the contact points 47 and 48 and 49 and 50 can be maintained. Two studs 65,' carried by the bracket 43, project into enlarged openings 66 of a switchoperating plate 51, and the studs act as guides for guiding the switch-operating plate 51 in its various movements.

The springs 59 and 60 provide means for flexibly supporting the switch-operating plate 51, and, since the openings 55 and 56 are larger than the diameter of the studs 52 and 53, respectively, the r switch-operating plate is capable of being moved in various directions. Therefore, a light touch of the switch-operating plate 51 at any point along its length or width will rock the switchoperating plate 51 in any desired direction, depending upon the point of contact with the switch-operating plate by the operator. For example, a light touch near the left-hand end (Fig. 3) of the switch-operating plate 51 Will close contacts 49 and 50, whereas a light touch near the 'right-hand end (Fig. 3) will close the contacts 47 and 48. Depression or contact of the plate 51 at dead center would close both sets of contacts 49 and 50, and 47 and 48. Therefore, it becomes apparent that it is not critical as to which point of the switch-operating plate 51 is contacted by the operator as she inserts the check into the associated compartment. Therefore, the operator need not be conscious of the exact point in which she contacts the switch-operating plate, merely inserting a check into a compartment, and at the same time nudging the switchoperating plate 51 in any direction` will close the contacts to energize the solenoid on the associated control keys.

Each set of switch plates 47 'and 48 is connected to the associated solenoid 16 by electrical circuits (Fig. so that the proper solenoid will be energized upon closing either sets of contacts 47-48 or 49-50.

The electrical circuits shown in Fig. 5 are normally inoperative and are controlled by a double-pole switch 70 (Figs. 1 and 5 Operation of the double-pole switch 70 closes a circuit through a pilot light 71, which will indicate to the operator that the electrical connections are ready for use.

Closing the switch 70 closes a circuit from the supply line 72 through the pilot light 71, to a second supply line 73. In addition to closing the circuits through the pilot light, the switch 70 also closes a circuit through a transformer 74, the output of the transformer being connected to a bridge rectifier 75. One side of the rectifier 75 is connected to a line 76 and the other to a line 77. The line 76 is a common line for all of the solenoids 16. Each solenoid 16 is connected to a respective switch plate 45 by a line 78. The line 77 is connected to a SO-ohm resistor 79 and line 83 is connected to condenser 81. This will cause condenser 81 to accumulate and store an electrical charge. v

Closing each contact switch 47-48 or 49-50 will close the following circuits: From the output line of the condenser 81, the connection is through the common line 76 to one side of a solenoid, through a line 78, to the switch plate 45, through the respective contact points 47-48 or 49-50, through switch plate 46, line 80, to the other side of the condenser S1.

Through the above circuits, the closing of any pair of contacts 45-46 will energize the associated solenoid 16 and depress the key 10, which forms the armature of the energized solenoid. Thus the closing of any of the switches in the sorting boxes will depress a key corresponding thereto.

At the end of a run, the switch is operated to open the circuit through the pilot light and the operating cireuits. However, at this time a certain charge still remains in the condenser 81 and this charge is sufficient to cause another operation, in the event one of the switches 45-46 is operated. To discharge this condenser when the switch 70 is thrown, a circuit is closed from one side of the condenser 81 through line 84, through the switch 70, line 82, resistor 79, line 83 to the other side of the condenser 81.

In the above circuits the bridge rectifier is a source of D. C. power.

The resistor 79 serves to limit the charging current of the capacitor to safe and reasonable values, and limits the 'steady state current through the entire circuit during the time the switch 47-48, or switch 49-50 is closed to a safe value which will not overheat the solenoid 16.

The resistor 79, when discharging the condenser, serves to limit the current to a safe value for the condenser and the switches.

While the form of mechanism shown and described herein is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the inventiou to the one form or embodiment disclosed herein, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various other forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a switch having a plurality of pairs of contacts, a floating member, a plurality of switch-closing means on the floating member normally engaging the switch, said floating member being universally movable to cause the means to close at least one pair of said contacts, a sorting compartment, and a bracket for supporting the switch in the mouth of the sorting compartment. I

2. In a switch for a sorting compartment of an accounting machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of contacts, a switch-operating member, a plurality of springs for resiliently supporting the switch-operating member for universal movement to close said contacts, and means to support the switch on the front wall of the sorting compartment near the top thereof.

3. In a switch for a sorting compartment of an accounting machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of contacts, a switch-operating member, a plurality of springs for resiliently supporting the switch-operating member for universal movement to close said contacts, means to support the switch on the front wallsof the sorting compartment near the top thereof, and guide pins on said switch-operating member. projecting through enlarged openings in said bracket.

4. In a switch for a sorting compartment of an accounting machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of contacts, a switch-operating member, a plurality of springs for resiliently supporting the switch-operating member for universal movement to close said contacts, means to support the switch on the front wall of a sorting compartment near the top thereof, and guide pins on said switch-operating member projecting through enlarged openings in said bracket, said guide pins also acting to limit the movement of said switchoperating member under influence of said springs.

5 In a switch for a sorting compartment of an accounting machine of the class described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of contacts, a switch-operating member, a plurality of springs for resiliently supporting the switchoperating member for universal movement to close said contacts, means to support the switch on the front walls of the sorting compartment near the top thereof, guide pins on said switch-operating member projecting into enlarged openings in said bracket, said guide pins also acting to limit the movement of the said switch-operating member under infiuence of said springs, and a plurality of guide pins in the bracket and projecting into enlarged openings in said switch-operating member.

6. In a switch for a sorting compartment of an accounting machine of the type described, the combination of a plurality of pairs of contacts, a switch-operating member, a plurality of springs for resiliently supporting the switchoperating member for universal movement to close said contacts, means to support the switch on the front walls of a sorting compartment near the top thereof, guide pins on said switch-operating member projecting through an enlarged opening in said bracket, said guide pins also acting to limit the movement of said switch-operating member under influence of said springs, a plurality of guide pins inl the bracket and projecting into enlarged openings in said switch-operating member, and a guard formed on the switch-operating member to enclose the switch.

7. In a switch member for an accounting machine having sorting compartments, the combination of a support mounted at the top of the front wall of a compartment, switch contacts mounted on the support, said switch comprising two blades mounted at the center thereof, two sets of contacts, one set located at each end of said blades, a floating member mounted on the support for movement in a plurality of directions, and a plurality of means on the fioating member normally contacting one of said blades, and the manipulation of which acts to move one or more of the plurality of means to actuate one switch blade to cause one or more of the contacts thereon to come into engagement with the contacts of the other switch blade.

8. In a switch member for an accounting machine having sorting compartments, the combination of a support mounted at the top of the front wall of a compartment, switch contacts mounted on the support, said switch comprising two blades mounted at the center thereof, two sets of contacts, one set located at each end of the blades, a floating member mounted on the support for movement in a plurality of directions, a plurality of means on the floating member normally contacting one of said blades, and the manipulation of which, acting to move one or more of the plurality of means to cause one or more of the contacts to move into engagement With the contacts of the other switch blade, an extension of the floating member to enclose the switches on one side, and a plate mounted at the top of the front wall of the sorting compartment to enclose the other side of the switches, the extension and the plate thereby preventing accidental contact with the switch blades.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 884,441 Weser Apr. 14, 1908 935,150 I-Iamlin Sept. 28, 1909 1,903,428 McManaman Apr. 11, 1933 2,375,393 Story May 8, 1945 2,409,483 Gandelot Oct. 15, 1946 2,493,146 Kalwo Jan. 3, 1950 2,521,489 Sorensen Sept. 5, 1950 2,552,471 Watkins May 8, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 248,451 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1926 440,662 Germany Feb. 11, 1927 

